Yet another goanna.Have to be sorry for the poor guy. There was a sulphur crested cockatoo above his head threatening to rip his head off (very very loud!), and a large brush turkey wandering around the base of the tree eyeing off his tail.He lived, but the birds do NOT like them. (They raid nests.)

Had a beaut demonstration in aeronautics over the Erskine Range the other day. 2 sea eagles sparring. Also saw platypus on the Crossing and Davey Rivers, wedgies, albatross, OBP's, wombats and 5 seperate Ground Parrot sightings. Awesome Cpl weeks in the SW.

Attachments

The idea of wilderness needs no defense, it only needs defenders ~ Edward Abbey

Not my last walk but following the gliding birds theme.On Mt Stirling South Peak and saw about 5 Nankeen Kestrels. It was a magnificent sight. they seemed to be taking insects out of the air in flight.

north-north-west wrote:At least the snakes are native, which is more than can be said about ferals like deer.

Unsure what this comment adds to the the discussion, I'm certain all members understand deer aren't native. I'm also not native, although not quite as feral.

It's one of my major bugbears; I really can't stand invasive ferals being referred to as 'wildlife". 'Wildlife' should be limited to native species. IMO.

Fair enough I can respect that opinion NNW. Although I've witnessed much more damage from another invasive, non-native species. Regularly. Sambar are like ghosts, many people have never laid eyes on them. Seeing a stag in the predawn light, overlooking the spectacular Vic alps, for me is amazing. I'll skip my bugbears.

A lucky photo (for me) of a Dromaius novaehollandiae (Emu) on the Yaberoo Budjara Heritage Trail. I seem to only see them running across a track or road in front of me; rarely do I see them casually wondering up the trail.

Are we still mentioning snakes? Stopped above Baw Baw by a beautiful Tiger on Wednesday. Yellow stripes glistening in the sun! Got within a metre and a half had to stop and wait for about 5 minutes while it kept sunning itself on the track. It crawled off, but and lo and behold it, or it's doppelganger came back 20 minutes later!Slithered as cooly as you like within a metre (until I saw it!) through a sunny patch while I ate my muesli and worked it's way slowly away over 4-5 minutes.Never had a more alien breakfast, watching it move off slowly while I ate. Just magestical as Sam Neill would say.

Saw 4 of these today with this one being the most photogenic, along with half a dozen lyre birds and what I am calling an olive python, on a day walk in the RNP.

The snake was about 6' long in the old money but really quite skinny for an animal that size, and didn't have a thickening around the head. It was sunning itself on the side of the track and rapidly made it's way to shelter in a crevasse of an overhang. In fact I saw it's head first and was expecting something no bigger that 3' or smaller. I was very surprised at it's length.

EDIT - further research suggests an Eastern Brown, however, most brown snakes I have seen are much thicker through the body. I haven't seen an olive coloured one although I know they do vary a lot in colouration. Python / Brown - definitely don't want to get them mixed up!

CheersKen

And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains extended,And at night the wondrous glory of the everlasting stars.

Tiger snake hogging the track on Yellow Pup. Needless to say it got right of way.Goanna 'hiding' on Roots Ridge.Very relaxed black snake sharing our lunch break on the Nattai. Wasn't two feet from one of my companions, and hardly batted an eyelid.

Nine satin bower birds together! Two satin, one of which was showing off in the bushes, the others ladies or juveniles.Crosslands Reserve carpark. I wasn't walking but it's along the GNW. They were just hanging out on the grass pecking some afternoon tea.

Diamond Python, Morelia spilota spilota, October 2018. Approximate length two metres. Moved slowly off the track. I acted too slowly to get a shot of the full body.

According to Coventry & Robertson, The snakes of Victoria (1991), this is a nocturnal snake that locates "small to medium-sized, warm-blooded vertebrates" using "heat-sensory pits on the lips. The prey is then overcome by constriction. Eggs, approximately 10 to 30 per clutch, are laid in a cluster and brooded by the female. This is the only form of direct parental care exhibited by any Victorian snake." This species "is restricted to the coastal heaths of far East Gippsland."